Automatic advertising projection apparatus



Feb. 15, 19 27. A. KNOTT AuTouAi'Ic, ADVERTISING PROJECTICSN APPARATUS Fii ed sem s. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 15,1927.

A. s. KNQTT AUTOMATIC ADVERTISING PROJECTION APPARATUS E M W 4 Filed Sept. 15. 1925- s sn et sneeg 2 Jill" 3:

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mmliii 'A. s. KNOW I 617642 AUTOMATIC ADVERTISING PROJECTION APPARATUS Filed Sept. 15. 1925 s She ets-Sheet s Patented Feb 15, 1927.

UNHEQ STATES Parser errata.

ADMIRAL S. KNO'I'T, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC ADVERTISING PROJECTION APPARATUS.

Application filed September 15, 1925. Serial No. 56,457.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic advertising projecting apparatus of the type where a series of interchangeable slides, bearing advertising matter, are inter mittent-ly positioned in the optical axis of a stereopticon machine for projection upon such as for instance, on the roofs of buildings, for projection upon screen billboards which are visible from the streets and highways below. It is therefore quite dithcult to attend these machines and it is therefore essential that the mechanism be constructed to withstand jars and other disturbances occasioned by exposure to the elements, without impairing the operation of the machine, or disturbing the adjustment of the focusing apparatus. 7

It is therefore the primary object of my invention to provide a simple, compact, and rigidly constructed, portable stereopticon machine, which is adapted to operate automatically over long periods of time, without attention for adjustments and repairs.

A further object of my invention is to provide readily accessible means whereby the automatic mechanism, which is employed to intermittently advance the end less slide carrier, may be disconnected from the slide carrier drive. The endless slide carrier may then be easily moved by hand .in either direction to bring the individual slide holders into any desired position for insertion or removal of a slide, without changing the timing of the slide carrier when the disconnecting means is released.

A further object of my invention resides in the formation of the endless slide carrier conveyor and the slide carriers, whereby each slide is accurately timed and positively held in parallel relationship during their intermittent travel through the optical axis of the stereopticon machine.

A further object relates to the formation of the individual slide holders which are formed to close the space between each pair of slides during the travel of the slide con.-

veyor through the optical axis of-the stere opticon, and thereby exclude the passage of interfering light on the screen v V A further object of my invention, resides in the formation of the supporting frame onv which each element of the machine is adjustably mounted and compactly arranged, whereby the device may be bodily moved from place to place .and set up for continuous operation, without disturbing the adjust ment of the various elements.

A still further object of my invention is to provide, as an attachment to a stereopticon machine of this character, a separate 'op: tical projection apparatusas a unit.1 The unit is adjustably mounted on the frame of themain stereopticon and adapted to be operatively connected therewith. for simultaneous adjustment to project upon a screen an animated or moving light border around and concentric with the optical projection of the main stereopticon.

Referring now to the drawings on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts: i

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved ste'reop-ticon machi1 1e,showing in detail the construction o-f-the supporting frame and the relative arrangement of elements adjust-ably mounted thereon. will be noted that the animated light border projection unit is shown adjustably mounted on the frame and operatively connected to automatically function with the elements of the main stereopticon.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the front portion of the main stereopticon machine, partly in section, showing'the mounting of the Fig. is afront detailview, partly insec- "tion, of the rotatable light border interrupting means, and

Fig. isa rear viewof Fig. 4, also partly in slectionyshowing the mounting 'of the border producing screenvand the meansfor laterally adjusting the supporting bracket 7 on the frame of the main stereopticon msi r cates the glass slides on which the advertising a chine.

In the drawings, the portions indicated as I A, represent the base or table on which the machine, as a whole, is mounted; B indimatter is displayed in any desired manner,

Cfand D represent the adjustable projection lenses, and. E represents an electric motor. I All of these parts may be of any well known 7 orapproved design or construction, provid ing they do not depart from the spirit of the invention hereinafter to be described.

The base or table A is preferably formed of'wood, although any light metal such as aluminum, may be substituted, which will .rigifdlysupport the main structural frame 0' thestereopticon machine in use.

The main structuralor supporting frame consists of two substantially rectangular castings 2 and 3,havin'g"legs 4 and 5 which are securd to reinforced and provided withintegral web portions 7 and 8 respectively, the inner uniformly space the castings and rigidly sethe base A by machine screws" or'bolts 6. Each of the castings 2'and'3 are suitably flanged extremities of which are secured together by machinescrews 9. These flanged Webfportionswhen bolted together, serve to :cure the frame sections'in aligned spaced reholder 15,"shown in Fig. 1.

also comprises an endless series of overlapping slide holders 16, which 'eXtend between lation,-as is clearly shown in Fig. 1.

At each of 'thefo'u'r corners o-f 'the castrings 2 and 3the frame is enlarged to prov de bearings for transverse shafts 10 on each of which a pair of spaced sprocket wheels 11- and '12 are secured to rotate with the shafts. 'A slide-holder conveyor, consistingof a pair of endless sprocket "chains 13 and 14, is carried on the sprocket wheels 11 and 12,;and is adapted to be adjusted, for slack, by means of the radially adjustable bearing the spaced sprocket chains and are rigidly secured toevery fifth link of each chain, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 2." The slide holders are preferably formed by castings to provide overlying edges and channel ways 17, into which the glass slides B are adapted to fit. A boss or stop 18 is also cast integral 1y with one side of the rectangular slideholder to llmit the rnovementof a slide, when i114} serted in the channels Y17, and a spring leaf 19 is secured to the stop 18, to frictionally hold and engages. slide in position against the stop. Extending at substantially right angles to the rear or under face of each slide The conveyor holder 16, are a pair of spaced link-shaped webs 20 which are rigidly secured to a. link in each of the sprocket chains 13 and 14 by rivets 21. Each slide holder thus forms a rigid part ofa link in each chain, causing condenser lens'holder 26, and to provide a perpendicular face 27 on which the slide holder conveyor is adapted to slide, to axially position a slide-B relative to the condenser lenses 23 and 28, see Fig. 2. Secured to each of the stanchions 24 and 25, on each side of the'conveyor chains 13 and14, are

bracket'members 29 and 30, adapted to adjustably support an adjustable projection lens C in axialalignmentwith the condenser lenses 28 and 28.

The stanchion 24, of the casting 2, is formed with a laterally extending shelf portion 31having elevated platform exten sion 32 on which the electric motor E is adjustably mounted by bolts 33. A gear box 34 is ren'ie v'ably mounted on the shelf portion 31 by machine screws 35, and contains the intern'iittent drivemechanism for the slide holder conveyor to be described hereafter. I

The transverse shaft 10, journaledin the lower extremities of the stanchions 24 and 25, of the castings 2 and 3, extends through the stanchion 23 and a clutch element having a sleeve portion 37 is secured on the end of the shaft 10, by a. pin 38.

A; tubular drive shaft 39 extends transversely through the gear box 34, coaxial to the shaft 10 on which the conveyor driving sprocket wheels 11 are secured. A

clutchv element 40 is-secured on the end of the shaft 39 adjacent'the clutch element 36 and carries an axially movable, spring pressed key 41, which is adapted to enter a transverse slot 42 in theface of the clutch element 36. The clutch elements 36 and, 40 and key 41 co-act to provide what I will term definite relation clutch. A rod 43,

secured to the key 41, extends through the tubular drive shaft 39 and is provided with a'knob 44, at its outer extremity,wvhereby the key 41 may be manually retracted from V the slot in the face of the clutch element 36 to disconnect the shaft 10 from the intermittent drive mechanism now to be described.

. The rotary shaft of the motor E is connected to a shaft 46, which extends into the gear box 34;, by a shaft coupling -il7. A small pinion gear, not shown, is carried on the shaft &6, within the gear box, and meshes with the larger driven gear d8 on the worm gear shaft 49. Extending transversely through the gear box below the worm gear shaft 49 is a shaft 50 on which is carried a gear 51 which meshes with and is driven by the worm gear shaft 49. The elements 52 and 53 of the Genevagear movement are mounted respectively on the shaft 50, and the tubular shaft 39, and cooperate to turn the shaft 39 and coaxial shaft 10, through the clutch elements 4:0, 41 and 36, a. quarter of a turn on each revolution of the gear element 52. The sprocket wheels 11 are thus caused to advance the slide carrier conveyor a distance equal to the width of a slide. holder .on each revolution of the gear element 52. It will also be noted that, when the key ll of the definite relation clutch is retracted from the slot in the face of the element 86, by manual operation of the spring pressed rod a3, to free the slide conveyor from its automatic drive mechanism, the clutch elements will not reengage to restore the drive to the slide conveyor until the slide conveyor and drive mechanism are in apredetermined definite relation.

Adjustably mounted on the two lower horizontal frame members of the castings 2 and 3, is a. bracket member 54 having a centrally arranged clamping yoke 55 which is adapted to receive and rigidly support a standard 56. Universal clamping bracket members 57 and 58 are adjustably mounted on the standards 56 in which arms 59 and 60, carrying a lamp socket and reflector, respectively, are adjustably mounted.

The above description relates to the spe cific details of construction of the main stercopticon machine including the means for automatically. and intermittently advancing the endless slide conveyor on the main frame. 7

The stanchion 24 of the main frame is further provided with a. supporting face having rearwardly extending spaced lugs 64 and 65 formed with threaded apertures 66 and 67.

An animated border projecting stereopticon. unit, now to be described, is adapted to be adjustably secured to the face 68 of the stanchion 24 to form a. rigid part of the main stereopticon.

This unit comprises a substantially L shaped bracket member 68 provided with a depending, rearwardly extending, arm 69 and a supporting rod 70 secured to the end of the arm 69. The bracket 68 is formed with a pair of spaced, rearwardly extending lugs 71 and 72, carrying adjusting screws 73 and 7 at which co-operate with the thread ed apertures 66 and 67 in the lugs 64f, and 65, see Fig. 5. The screws 7 3 and 74 are rotatably mounted in apertures in the lugs 71 and 72 andretained by washers 7 5 and 76 which are secured to the screws by pins 7 7 and 78. The bracket 68 may thus be laterally adjusted to focus the border projection unit relative to the main stereopticon, and the bracket arm 79 securedat one end to the light supporting bracket 54, is provided with a slotted end portion 80, in which the end of the supporting rod 70 is adjustably secured by a screw 81, to retain the bracket 68 and co-operating elements in adjusted position. A lamp socket 82 and reflector 88 are adjust-v ably mounted on the supporting rod 70.

Secured on the bracket 68 is apair of vertically spaced frame members 84 and 85 each being provided with a spring-pressed lever member 86 and 86 pivoted at the up Der edge of said frame members and adaptec to friction-ally engage and retain a pair of 0011- r denser lenses 87 and 87 frame.

A pair of spaced pins 88 project inwardly from the frame member 84E on which a perforated border-producing screen member 89 is hung and centered on the frame member 84f, beneath the spring-pressed condenser lens 87, see Fig. 4:.

The screen 89 is preferably formed of thin sheet metal and is perforated as at 89 to in position on said permitpassage of light from the condenser lens 87 to produce an illuminated border around and concentric with the optical projection of the main stereopticon machine.

On the forward edge of the bracket 68 is. secured an annular frame member 90'carrying roller bearings 91, which serve to rotatably support a light-interrupting means 92 which co-operates with the stationary perforated screen 89 toproduce an animated ortraveling light border which will be understood from the following:

The light-interrupting means 92, as shown in Fig. 4, consists in a pair of ring-shaped members 93 and 94 having tubular flange portions which are screw-threaded together through the annular frame member 90. A. color screen 95, formed of glass, and a radially slotted screen 96, formed preferably of thin sheetmetal, are clamped between the 1 threaded sleeve portions of the rings 93 and 94 to rotate therewith. The ring member 93 is formed with teeth 97 on its periphery which mesh with the teeth of a gear wheel 98 journaled in the bracket 68 to rotate in a horizontal plane below the condenser lens frames 84 and 85; j

The gear 98 is secured to the upper end of a vertical drive shaft 99 which shaft is journaled in a bracket 100 mounted on the side i and a worm gear'l02 which meshes with the vlil gear 103 carried on the end of the shaft 50 extending through a wall of the gear box The light interrupting means 92 is thus driven by the motorE through the gearing previously described. a V v A pair of bracket members 104: are secured on opposite sides of the frame members 84- and are adapted'to adjustably sup port anadjustable projection lens D in axial alignment with the condenser lenses 87 and 87. v v V v i VVha-t is claimed isi 1; In a stereopticon apparatus the combi-' nation of a projector, a slide carrier driving vmeans, means for intermittently advancing and locking said driving means at predetermined intervals, and means operable to disconnect said driving means from said advancing and locking means and to connect said driving means with said advancing and locking means in a predetermined definite relation uponv re-engagement, 2 A stereopticon apparatus comprising optical projection means, any endless slide conveyor mounted to successively present slides into the optical axis of said projection means, driving means for said conveyor,

' automatic means positively connected to said slide conveyor driving means for successively and intermittently advancing the slides into the optical axis of said projection means at predetermined intervals andlocking said [slide conveyor in advanced positions, and a definite ,relation clutch operable to disconnect said slide conveyor driving means from said automatic means.

3.'A stereopticon apparatus comprising optical projection means, an endless slide carrier operating means, motor operated means operatively connected to intermittently drive said slide carrier operatingmeans to present and lock successive slides at predetermined intervals in the optical axis of said projection means, and means interposed betweensaid motor operated means and said slide, carrier operating means for rendering th'eooperation of said motor operated means ineffective -when the slide carrier is tobe manually operated, said means operating when released to automatically reestablish driving connection between said motor operated means and said slide carrier operating,

means in a predetermined definite relation.

4. A stereopticon apparatus comprising optical projection means, an endless slide carrier opera-ting lmeans, motor operated ineans operatively connected to intermittently drive said slide carrier operating meansto present andlock successive slides at predetermined intervals in the optical axis: of said projection means, and clutch means interposed between said motor operated means and said slidecarrier operating means, said clutch means co-operating with said slide carrier operating means and driving means to automatically connect said slide carrier with said driving means in a predetermined definite relation.

5. In an intermittently operated stereopticonapparatus the combination of a slide carrier drive, a motor, a Geneva gear movement driven by said motor, and a definite relation clutch element interposed between said Genevagear movement and said slide carrier drive.

6. A'stereopticon apparatus comprislng a supporting frame consisting of a pair of supporting frame to project between saidspaced castings said castings co-operating. at one :end to provide a vertical face over which said slide conveyor slides to align the slides during their intermittent travel through the optical axis of said projector,

and motor operated means mounted on one of said castings andconnected to one of said sprocket wheels for driving said slide conveyor.

7. A stereopticon apparatus of the class described comprising a pair of vertically supported frame castings each being formed with cooperating web portions secured together to uniformly space and brace said frame castings, sprocket wheels journaled between said frame castings,-an endless slide conveyor mounted on said sprocket wheels, an optical pro ector ad ustably mounted on said frame castings, and motor operated means mounted on said frame castings and operatively connected to intermittentlydrive said slide conveyor to present and locksuccessive slides of said slide conveyor in the optical axis of said projector.

8. A stereopticon apparatus for advertising or other purposes, comprising a rigid frame, an optical pro ecting means adjust-.

ably mounted on said frame, an endless slide carrier mounted on said frame, motor operated means for intermittently advancing successive slides of said slide carrier into the optical axis of said projection means,la'sec ond optical projection means adjustably mounted on said frame, a traveling light border-producing means and means for continuously operating said light border-producing means from said motor operated means for intermittently advancing said slide carrier.

9. In combination with an automatic stereopticonapparatus of'the class described, having a rigid frame, a second optical procarried thereby,

jection unit, said unit comprising a bracket on Which optical projection means is mounted, and means on said bracket co-operating with means on said frame for adjustably securing said bracket relative to said frame.

10. A stereopticon apparatus, comprising a rigid frame, optical projection means adjustably mounted on said frame, an endless slide carrier mounted on said frame, means for intermittently advancing successive slides of said slide carrier into the optical axis of said projection apparatus, and shutter means carried by said slide carrier for intercepting the passage of light between successive slides during their intermittent travel through the optical axis of said projection apparatus.

11. A stereopticon apparatus comprising a rigid frame, optical projection means adjustably mounted on said frame, an endless slide conveyor mounted on said frame to traverse the optical axis of said projection apparatus, means for intermittently driving said conveyor, slid-e holders rigidly secured to said conveyor, said slide holders having their contiguous edges formed to provide shutters to exclude passage of light between successive slides during their intermittent travel through the optical axis of said proj ection apparatus.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signa ture.

ADMIRAL S. KNOTT. 

